The Cooling of The Fire and The Melting of The Ice

4. Jealousy

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Augustine just stared at Winnie as he pathetically stuttered to make him see reason. But he wasn't going to fall for the act anymore, he couldn't allow himself to follow Winnie so blindly. He could feel his nails digging into the sleeve of his jacket, he could tell just how fearful Winnie was, now that he was in a position like this. Augustine really couldn't blame him now, relieving this moment must be terrifying for him.

"Stop- stop it-" Augustine glared down at Winnie, holding his arm tighter. "You don't mean any of that!" He said, "It's all been a lie from you!" His voice wasn't shouting, but it was damn close to it. He was angry, tired, exhausted and more importantly cold.

"You had to know exactly what you were doing!" he continued on, giving Winnie a shake before going on, "As soon as you found out what my dream school was, you applied and you took my spot! You joined the hockey team and took my position and you've managed to- to steal every last bit of my friends and run off with them and leave me behind-" the jealousy shaking in his voice wasn't easy to miss.

Augustine blinked, feeling his eyes oddly teary eyed- ah, he was the type to cry when frustrated, when overwhelmed and right now well, he was a little bit of everything. His hands were shaking as he held onto Winnie. "And as far as i know-" he forced out another laugh, "You're the reason why we're here! and- and you're just looking for a chance to finish me off for good," the words sounded insane once they left his mouth, but it was the only reasonable explanation his mind could make up in the moment.

"You didn't have to say any of it, but I know exactly what you think about me!" he hissed. "You grew distant, threw me off to the side and acted like nothing happened! Are you that embarrassed to be around me? Are you ashamed to be my friend?" Augustine drew in a sharp breath, the sting of the cold winter air shocking his lungs. "Believe me, I cared about you a whole lot!" he could feel himself losing control of his voice, wavering with frustration and dammit why did he have to be so emotional with this shit. Why can't he just yell and get all his emotions out like a normal person instead of crying like a little baby?

"Despite me caring so much about you, you still want me gone!"

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"Augustine I don't like lying to you, you know that." He began, the tears beginning to well up in his eyes, making them water, shining slightly in the cold, making his eyes sting as the cold air hit them. It's not like he could exactly hold them back though and stop it. He had no control here, he was completely at Augustine's mercy.

"You're my best friend, I wouldn't lie to you like that, especially with something as serious as this!"

His continued thoughts got cut off as he let out a frightened gasp as he was suddenly shaken, the cold air in the house spreading a chill throughout his body further than it already has, making him shiver. He somehow held onto Augustine with more force as it happened. He was afraid, so afraid.

He struggled a bit in his grip, still trying to find a way to get back on his feet if he could, it was no use though. He was still shaking horribly as well on top of everything, as he tried to keep from giving out immediate responses instinctually as he continued to listen to Augustine go on about him. He wanted to tell him so bad that he just simply had everything mixed up between them, but he knew that would definitely do more harm than good.

But, hearing the words 'care'; used in the past tense by him set him off. It just- broke something in him. It was like he could already feel the cracks in the glass forming as they were beginning to shatter around him before anything had even happened. Though even so, he continued to hold back his tears as much as he could, though it was becoming increasingly difficult as this went on, a small few already beginning to fall.